Vitoria, Francisco de
VITORIA, FRANCISCO DE
VITORIA, FRANCISCO DE (d. 1592), Marrano prelate. He was the son of the New Christian Duarte Nuñes, and two of his brothers lived as Jews in Safed and Tripoli respectively, under the names of Abraham and Jacob Curiel. Many other members of his immediate family also reverted to Judaism, while Isaac de Mattathias *Aboab was his great nephew. Entering holy orders, Francisco became bishop of Tucumán (now in Argentina) in 1583 and was later nominated archbishop of Mexico. He aroused great enmity, however, and was recalled for investigation to Madrid, charges both of corruption and of Judaizing being involved. He died before the inquiry was concluded.
bibliography:
Révah, in: Boletim Internacional Lusco-Brasileiro, 2 (1961), 297–9; J. Caro Baroja, Los Judios en la España Moderna…, 2 (1962), 243–4; I. da Costa, Noble Families Among the Sephardic Jews (1936), index, s.v.Curiel.
[Cecil Roth]